Automatic electric drip coffee urn



June 25, 1935. A. c. WILCOX ,00

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AUTOMATIC- ELECTRIC DRIP COFFEE URN Filed April 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 9.; 95' EITILIIIII 3 a j K .A. Wiwx WWW Patented June 25, 1935 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,005,764 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC DRIP COFFEE URN Albert C. Wilcox, Massillon, Ohio, assignor to The Enterprise Aluminum Company, Massillon, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 10, 1934, Serial No. 719,912

9 Claims. (01. 219-43) The invention relates to automatically operatbeing broken away for the Purpose Of illustraing, electrically heated drip coffee urns such as are tionj used in restaurants, cafes and other places where 2, a Vertleal seet o fll iew t roug the large amounts 9f coffee are made, implrtoved drip ri oifee urn, taken substantially at The object of the improvement is to provide Tlg angles tot eDOSItIOI} S wn a drip coffee urn including a water container and Fig. 3, an enlarged detail elevation of the thera ground coffee basket located beneath the same, mally Controlled SWlteh for p g t valve electric means being provided for heating the and the te t eiements g gqeeth r wltth water in the water container and means being the eheui 5 here are S Own l amma iprovided for discharging the water from the Cally; 10 water container through the coffee basket when th 4, a t t f tg ei g l g the water in the container reaches a predetere upper 1 ion 0 e SW1 0 Cover D a e an i mined temperature; a container for the liquid bimetal StTlD 4 f h l enlarged c e, ta

cofiee beverage being provided beneath the es e the e ground coffee basket, a second heating means t g t g l e g g F e g the Swit 5 being provided beneath said liquid cofiee cona e as on e tainer, thermostatic means being provided for eh elevatlohhf h te S mllar automatically cutting out the first named h-eatf S OWmg theswitch 1n the Opp P ing means and operating the second named heath to that heW ing means when the heated water i discharged Fig. '7 a sectional side elevation of the sw1tch from the water container through the ground i the position shown in Fi f t t t cofiee basket. Fig. 8, a e ail sec ional View 0 he au oma i- Another object of the improvement is to procally perated valv h w h me in l sed vide a valve in the water container operatively position; and

connected to a thermally controlled switch in the Fig. 9, a similar view showing the valve in open circuits to both of the heating elements whereby position. y when steam from the water container contacts Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughwith the thermally controlled switch, the curout the drawings. rent will be cut off from the upper heating elc- The improved drip coffee urn is preferably ment, the valve will be opened to discharge the formed of aluminum or other sheet metal and is 3O hot'water from the water container through the supported upon a base l0 preferably in the form coffee basket and the circuit will be closed to the Of a truheeted eehe, the p l I l the bein lower heating element so as to maintain the liquid p bly centrally ec ss d as at I! to accomcoffee beverage t th d ir d temperature modate the electric heating element l3 provided as A further object is to provide a manually Opfor the purpose of eat g the liquid coffee erated toggle switch in the circuit to the lower beverageheating element whereby either high heat or low upturned annular flarige y e heat may be produced when the lower heating elevlded P the base preferablytermmatmg m ment is automatically turned on the peripheral bead l5 and forming a socket to 40 receive the liquid coiTee beverage container indi- 40 i gi 3;3 :253? g igz sgi 5 33 5 22 cated at H. This container may be substan- W t t a b d1 d tially cylindric in form and the upper open edge 50 ha 9 same may e.swung upwgr an portion thereof is prefe'rably folded back upon utward1ym Perm access i itself as indicated at l8. Handles IQ of any suitcofiee basket without necessitating lifting the able design may be provided upon Opposite Sides Water cntame11frm the P of the container 11 for the purpose of bodily lift- The above obJects, together w th others which mg and moving the urn.

W be pp m an lnslleetloh of e draw- The ground coffee basket is indicated generally 1:5 1 e t descrtptloil Q g may at 20 2aindtmay be provided with the peripheral a D0111 e 011 may 8 a alhe Y 0011- bead a its upper open edge adapted to rest structing the improved automatic electric drip upon the upper edge portion l8 of the liquid coffee urn in the manner illustrated in the accoffee container. This coffee basket preferably companying dravgings, intiwhic? f d f hlas logger Itliorltion oizset as at :2, providing a Figure 1 is a si e e eva on o a pre erre orm s on er w ic may e provide with perforaof the improved electric drip cofl-ee urn, parts tions as indicated at 24, and the bottom wall 25 of the coffee basket is provided with a plurality of small perforations as indicated at 26.

The water container is indicated generally by the numeral 21 and the lower end thereof may preferably be slightly reduced as at 28 to receive the cylindric extension 29 which is fixed to said reduced portion and which is itself preferably slightly reduced at its lower end as at 30 to be received within the upper open end of the coffee basket. This cylindric extension 29 forms the outer or peripheral wall of a lower shell providing a compartment or chamber to house the heating element for heating the water in the con tainer. This shell is indicated generally at 3| and is provided with the central raised portion 32 upon which the heating element 33 is seated, the upper side of said heating element being received in a slight depression 34 formed in the bottom wall 35 of the water container 21. The depending annular flange 36 of the shell 3| is preferably formed integral with the reduced portion 30 of the cylindric extension 29 thereof.

A stud 37 may be provided for connecting the lower shell 3! to the water container 2'! and for this purpose may be located through a central opening 38 in the bottom wall of the water container and through a similar opening 39 in the central raised portion 32 of the lower shell, the stud being reduced and threaded below said point as indicated at 40 to receive the nut 4 I. A head 42 is formed upon the upper end of the stud 31 between which and the bottom wall of the water container may be located a gasket 43, the nut 4| contacting with the raised central portion of the lower shell for drawing the head of the stud lightly against the bottom wall of the water container and clamping the electric heating element 33 between the bottom of the water container and the raised central portion 32 of the lower shell.

The stud 31 is provided with the central passage 44 forming a discharge outlet for the water container, and the lower end of the stud is concaved forming a substantially half-round valve seat 45 within which the ball'valve 46 is seated. A discharge port 41 is formed through the ball 46 and arranged to register with the discharge outlet 44 of the stud 31 when the ball is rotated upongits seat to the open position as shown in Fig.

A spring strip 48, preferably formed of bimetal as shown, is connected at one end to the lower shell 3| as by the bolts 49 and the free end portion may be provided with an aperture 50 of considerably less diameter than the ball 46 arranged to receive the lower side of the ball, as shown in the drawings, for the purpose of pressing the ball tightly against the seat 45 at all times.

I The valve mechanism may be enclosed within the lower shell 3| as by the closure member 5| v which may be in the form of a perforated spreaderjp'l V ate or if desired, may be as shown in Fig. 2, be ng preferably curved or tapered downward toward its center at which point it is provided with an aperture 52 of suitable size to permit 39pm discharge therethroughof all the water passing through the valve.

" In this form the spreader plate 53 may be a perforated disk having the upwardly offset peripheral flange 54 and is so constructed that it may, if desired, be placed loosely upon the top of the coffee basket, or, as shown in Fig. 2, may be detachably engaged with the headed studs 55 carried by the closure member 5|. For this purpose the apertures 56 in the flange 54, which engage the studs 55, may be in the form of keyhole slots to permit the spreader plate to be quickly and easily attached to or detached from the closure member.

A thermally operated switch is provided for the purpose of cutting off the current to the upper heating element 33 when the water in the container 21 reaches the boiling point, and at the same time opening the valve to permit the boiling water to be discharged from the water container through the coffee basket, and for simultaneously turning on the current to the lower heating element l3.

This switch may be located in an insulation housing indicated generally at 57 mounted upon one side of the water container and is preferably spaced therefrom as illustrated in the draw ings in order to permit free circulation of air entirely around the switch housing so that the thermal element therein will not be operated by heat radiated or conducted from the adjacent wall of the water container.

The thermal element is shown as in the form of a bimetal strip 58 located within the chamber 59 formed in the switch housing and closed by the plate 53 which may be of metal. This chamber 59 of the switch housing communicates with the interior of the water container asby the tube 6! which leads from the upper end of the chamber 59 to a bleeder port 62 in the upper portion of the water container.

The upper end only of the bimetal strip 58 may be connected to the switch housing as by the bolt 63 which also connects the cover plate 52 to the switch housing, a nut 64 clamping the upper end portion of the bimetal strip to the upper portion of the cover plate and a nut 65 upon the end of the bolt fastening the cover plate and bimetal strip to the insulation housing.

For the purpose of manually operating the bimetal strip, in the event that the same may be necessary or desirable, a headed stud 66 may be fixed to an intermediate portion of the bimetal strip and located through an aperture 61 in the cover plate, which is of sufficient size to permit the stud to move freely therethrough. A stud 68 is fixed to the lower end of the bimetal strip and located through an aperture 69 in the cov'er plate, of sufficient size to permit the stud to move freely therethrough. This stud is provided in its outer end with a socket 10 adapted to receive the rounded stud H upon the upper end of the insulation switch arm 12, the lower end of which is fixed to the shaft 13 which is journaled in the insulation housing 51.

The upper heating element 33 is connected-to the switch by means of the bus bars 14 which I may be connected at one end to the heating element as by the bolts 15 and at their other ends to the bolts 16 as by the nuts 11. The insulation housing 51 is connected to the cylindrlc extension 29 of the lower shell by means of the bolts 76 and nuts 11 and is spaced therefrom as by the hollow bosses 18 through which these bolts extend and by'the boss or projection I9 at the upper end of the housing, in order that there may be a complete circulation of air entirely around the switch housing so as to prevent the bimetal strip from being operated by heat radiated or conducted from the water container.

One of the bolts 16 is connected at its outer end to the upper end of a bus bar 80, to the other end of which is connected a contact post 8! adapted to be received in, the usualconnector plug. The other bolt 16 is connected to a conflange or jaw. 83 which is spaced from a similar flange or jaw 84 upon the contact member 85 connected to the contact post 8|a spaced from the post 8| and adapted to be similarly received in the connecter plug. A suitable guard or shield 86 may surround the contact posts 8| and 8Ia to receive the usual connecter plug as in ordinary practice.

A bus bar 81 connects the contact member 85 with a contact member 88 having an angular flange or jaw 89 thereon which is spaced from a similar flange or jaw 98 upon the contact member 9|. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, one terminal or binding post 92 of the lower heating element I3 is connected as by the wire 93 with the bus bar 88 of the switch. A wire 94 leads from the contact member 9| to one pair of contact jaws 95 of the double pole toggle switch indicated generally at 96 and adapted to be manually operated to control the lower heating element I3 to produce either high or low heat as may be desired, when the lower heating element is automatically turned on as will be later described in detail.

This toggle switch may be of any usual and ordinary type of toggle switch and includes the switch jaws 91 located adjacent to the jaws 95 and adapted to be simultaneously engaged by the switch blade 98 carried upon the lever 99. At the other end of the toggle switch is located the spaced pairs of switch jaws I88 and I8I arranged to be simultaneously engaged by the switch blade 98 when the lever is thrown to the opposite position. The switch jaws 95 and I88 are connected by a suitable conductor I82 and wires I83 and I84 lead from the switch jaws 9! to the terminal I85 and from the switch jaws |8| to the terminal I86 respectively, upon the the insulation switch housing and the other end being located in a recess I89 in the switch arm. In this position the contact stud 8 upon the switch arm is engaged between the angular flanges or jaws 89 and 98 while the contact stud III is disengaged from the angular flanges or jaws 83 and 84, the circuit to the lower heating element I3 thus being closed while the circuit to the upper heating element 33 is open. The valve 46, in this positionof the switch arm, is turned to the open position as shown in Fig. 9, with the opening 41 therethrough registering with the discharge outlet 44 in the stud 31.

A stem I I2 is fixed to the ball valve 46 and is connected to the shaft. I3 of the switch arm as by the universal joint or ball and socket joint I I3 whereby the valve is arranged to be operated by the switch arm. With the switch arm in the position shown in Fig. 3, the ball valve is in closed position as shown in Fig. 8 and with the switch arm in the position shown in Fig. 6 the ball valve is in open position as shown in Fig. 9.

For the purpose of easily obtaining access to the coffee basket, the'water container and lower shell as a unit may be hingedly supported above the coffee basket so that instead of requiring the water container and lower shell to be bodily lifted from the coffee basket to obtain access thereto, it is only necessary to swing the water container and lower shell outward upon its hinge.

For this purpose a standard 4 may be carried by the base I 8 and extend upward to a point above the top of the coffee basket where it is hingedly connected as at II5 to a lug II8 fixed upon the side of the cylindric extension 29 of the lower shell. This standard is preferably hollow in order that it may enclose a cable I I1 containing the wires leading from the switch to the lower heating element.

The handle II8 may be provided upon the wa- A faucet I23 is provided in the lower portion of the liquid coffee beverage container or receptacle IT for withdrawing the contents therefrom as desired and a water gauge I24 may be provided to indicate the liquid level therein.

In operating the improved drip coffee urn, the water container and shell are swung backward upon the hinge joint 5 so that access may be had to the coffee basket. The desired amount of ground cofiee is placed in the basket and the water container and shell are moved back to the normal position. The switch handle I2 is then manually moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, the lug II thereon engaging the socket I8 in the stud 88. The valve 46 is thus moved to the closed position and held in this position.

The cover I I9 is then removed from the water container and the desired amount of cold water is placed therein, after which the cover is replaced and a connecter plug of usual and ordinary construction provided with a cord attached to any suitable electric current outlet, is connected to the contact posts 8| and 8Ia. Current is thus furnished to the upper heating element 33 which heats the water in the water container 21. I

When the water reaches the boiling temperature, steam will be discharged from the water container through the bleeder port 62 and tube 6| into the chamber 59 of the switch housing, the steam contacting with the bimetal strip 58 and causing the same to warp or bend inward, withdrawing the hollow stud 68 from engagement with the rounded stud II upon the switch arm I2, permitting the spring IN to throw the switch arm to the position shown in Fig. 6, disengaging the contact stud I from the jaws 83 and 84, thus breaking the circuit to the upper heating element 33 and engaging the contact stud 8 with the jaws 89 and 98, closing the circuit to the lower heating element I3.

At the same time, the rotation of the switch arm rotates the shaft 13 and through it the stem I I2 of the ball valve 46, turning said ball valve to the open position, as shown in Fig. 9, permitting the hot water from the water container to be discharged through the opening 41 in the ball and through the opening 52 in the closure member 5|, the water being distributed over the perforated spreader plate 53 and passing therefrom through the ground coffee in the coffee basket, the liquid coffee beverage dripping through the perforated bottom of the coffee basket into the lower receptacle I! where it will be maintained at the desired temperature by the lower heating element I3. By manually operating the toggle erated either at high or'low temperature as may be desired.

I claim:

1. An automatic electric drip coffee urn including a water container, a coffee basket 'beneath said water container, a coffee beverage receptacle beneath the coffee basket, means for heating water in the water container, means for heating beverage in the beverage receptacle, means operated by the boiling of the water in the Water container for automatically cutting out said first named heating means and simultaneously turning on said second named heating means, and means operated by the boiling of the water for discharging the Water from the water container through the coffee basket and into the beverage receptacle.

2. An automatic electric drip coffee urn includ ing a water container, a coffee basket beneath said water container, a coffee beverage receptacle beneath the coffee basket, means for heating water in the water container, means for heating beverage in the beverage receptacle, means op erated by steam produced by the boiling of the water in the water container for automatically cutting out said first named heating means and simultaneously turning on said second named heating means, and means operated by the boiling of the Water for discharging the water from the water container through the coffee basket and into the beverage receptacle.

3. An automatic electric drip coffee urn including a water container, a coffee basket beneath said water container, a coffee beverage receptacle beneath the coffee basket, means for heating water in the Water container, means for heating beverage in the beverage receptacle, means operated by the boiling of the water in the water container for automatically cutting out said first named heating means and simultaneously turning on said second named heating means, and a valve operated by the boiling of the water for discharging the water from the water container through the coffee basket and into the beverage receptacle.

4. An automatic electric drip coffee urn including a water container, a coffee basket beneath said water container, a coffee beverage receptacle beneath the coffee basket, an electric heating element for heating water in the water container, an electric heating element for heating coffee beverage in the beverage receptacle, a thermally operated switch operated by boiling of the water in the water container for cutting out said first named heating element and turning on said second named heating element when the water reaches the boiling temperature, and a valve operated by the thermally operated switch for discharging the water from the water container through the coffee basketand into the beverage receptacle.

5. An automatic electric drip coffee urn including a water container, a coffee basket beneath the water container, a valve associated with the water container, a coffee beverage receptacle beneath the coffee basket, a heating element for said beverage receptacle and means for simultaneously opening said valve and turning on said heating element.

6. An automatic electric drip coffee urn including a water container, a coffee basket beneath said water container, heating means for the wa ter container, a valve associated with the water container, a coffee beverage receptacle beneath the coffee basket, heating means for the beverage receptacle, and thermally controlled means for cutting out said first named heating means and turning on said second named heating means and opening said valve to discharge water from the water container through the coffee basket and into the beverage receptacle when the Water reaches a predetermined temperature.

'7. An automatic electric drip coffee urn including a water container, a coffee basket beneath said water container, a coffee beverage receptacle beneath the coffee basket, an electric heating element for heating water in the water container, an

electric heating element for heating coffee beverage in the beverage receptacle, a thermally operated switch operated by boiling of the water in the water container for cutting out said first named heating element and turning on said second named heating element when the water reaches the boiling temperature, a valve operated by the thermally operated switch for discharging the water from the water container through the coffee basket and into the beverage receptacle, and a manually operated switch for operating the second named heating element at different temperatures.

8. A drip coffee urn including a coffee beverage receptacle, a ground coffee basket supported in the upper open end of the beverage receptacle, and a water container hingedly mounted above the coffee basket and arranged to normally rest upon the upper open end of the coffee basket.

9. A drip coffee urn including a base, a coffee beverage receptacle supported upon the base, a 

